Recovery – Dog Knee Surgery and Ligament Injurieshttp://dogkneeinjury.com
A Help Resource and Support Guide for Dog OwnersSun, 15 Oct 2017 21:42:55 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.8.2TPLO and Stifle Brace – Mortihttp://dogkneeinjury.com/tplo-and-stifle-brace-morti/
http://dogkneeinjury.com/tplo-and-stifle-brace-morti/#respondThu, 05 Oct 2017 05:22:39 +0000http://dogkneeinjury.com/?p=4049Morti is now a near 12-year-old, 75-pound, black Lab mix. In March of 2016 he ruptured the CCL of his right leg. It seemed TPLO was the ONLY way to go. The surgeon agreed (obviously) and 3 other area vets. He was healthy enough, still hiking 5 miles and full of energy. The surgery is […]

Morti is now a near 12-year-old, 75-pound, black Lab mix. In March of 2016 he ruptured the CCL of his right leg. It seemed TPLO was the ONLY way to go. The surgeon agreed (obviously) and 3 other area vets. He was healthy enough, still hiking 5 miles and full of energy.

The surgery is very invasive. Morti required 9 hard months to recover to a point of walking comfortably. We had laser treatment, did therapy at home, and swam in the creek (the “swim therapy” wasn’t for him). We made it back to near 2 miles of hiking and then he started showing signs of deterioration in the left leg.

In retrospect, I’m glad we had the surgery on his right leg. Because he is older and recovery was very difficult, I do wish that I pushed to have the tight rope procedure, as it is less invasive and recovery would hopefully have taken less time. They say the tight rope will fail over time on large, active, dogs….but, time is of the essence.

So, we went with a custom made stifle brace for the left leg. It appears to be a partial tear and the brace allows him to walk somewhat comfortably. The last year and a half took a lot out of him and we now can walk about 0.5 mile. I’ll also note that he is on a generic rimadyl, gabapentin, fish oil, and Dasuquin.

I will also note that my 60-pound yellow Lab mix was diagnosed with a CCL tear when she was less that 2 years old. I had her scheduled for surgery (because that’s what the vet said she needed) and strictly followed all of the rules for 1.5 months before surgery. I dropped her off for surgery (crying and broke) and they called 2 hours later to say that she was healing on her own and they didn’t want to do the surgery. God bless this vet and the ability for a young dog to recover. I don’t know how I would’ve controlled her energy for the post-surgery recovery. She is now near 13 and while she has arthritis, still plays with a ball, jumps on the bed, and hikes for 1-2 miles. Good luck! Big decision!!!

]]>http://dogkneeinjury.com/tplo-and-stifle-brace-morti/feed/0Conservative Management – Noellehttp://dogkneeinjury.com/conservative-management-noelle/
http://dogkneeinjury.com/conservative-management-noelle/#commentsFri, 19 May 2017 01:14:01 +0000http://dogkneeinjury.com/?p=4000Noelle is a 5-year-old female German Shepherd/Lab mix. On Dec. 23 she came home limping from our yard. She was holding her rear left leg up. Next morning we let her go in the yard and she started running around but again came home limping. We didn’t restrict her a lot since we didn’t know what […]

Noelle is a 5-year-old female German Shepherd/Lab mix. On Dec. 23 she came home limping from our yard. She was holding her rear left leg up. Next morning we let her go in the yard and she started running around but again came home limping. We didn’t restrict her a lot since we didn’t know what was causing her to limp. We started walking her on leash but allowed her go up and down the stairs inside the house. Two weeks passed but she didn’t seem to get better with her limp, so we took her to a vet on Jan 9. The vet told us that it might be a cruciate ligament rupture and needed to take an x-ray to confirm. I got confused and asked for some time to think. The vet prescribed Rimadyl 75mg twice a day for 5 days and Noelle was restricted to limited activities only. Later, I got an appointment for an x-ray on Jan 16.

After the vet took the x-ray, she recommended a few surgeons for TPLO and told us that it will cost $3,000- $4,000 and continued with Rimadyl for another week. After that we started calling hospitals to get estimates. Meanwhile, me and my husband started Googling about ACL injuries. After reading through the information, experiences, and advice, I started looking for more information about ACL injury and recovery without surgery. I was surprised with the information provided on your site and am very glad that we didn’t rush Noelle into surgery. We also stopped giving her Rimadyl and got her started on a Glucosamine booster supplement which has 600mg Glucosamine and 200mg Chondroitin.

For 2 weeks noelle was restricted with her activities and she started showing improvement. She started putting a little body weight on her rear left leg while walking. Based on the information on the site, I knew that I have to be patient with the recovery. Even though Noelle showed little improvement I was not sure whether I am doing the right thing for her or not. I was feeling guilty too. After reading all the experiences and success stories about CM I was hoping that Noelle could be one of them. We restricted her activity a lot. She was not allowed on stairs, no jumping, only leash walk 7-8 times a day for maximum of 5-10 minutes each. I changed her food gradually to healthy weight dog formula which has Glucosamine and Chondrotin, started giving her one boiled egg everyday, and added GlycoFlex3 to her diet. Everything together seemed to have worked for Noelle. We gradually increased her walk to 10-15 minutes for 4-5 times a day.

Now, we have started walking her 40 minutes in the morning and half an hour in the evening. During the day 5 minute walks 2-3 times. She is totally fine and very much recovered. NO MORE limping. She walks perfectly fine and uses her injured leg as her earlier normal self. We are so happy that she is perfectly fine now and we are glad that we didn’t put her under knife!! Just to be safe, she is only on leash walks. We don’t send her in the yard on her own and still she is not allowed to play with any other dog. I think I will wait for 4 more months for Noelle to play with her husky friend.

]]>http://dogkneeinjury.com/conservative-management-noelle/feed/5Simitri Success – Harley and Rudyhttp://dogkneeinjury.com/simitri-success-harley-rudy/
http://dogkneeinjury.com/simitri-success-harley-rudy/#respondThu, 02 Mar 2017 00:13:20 +0000http://dogkneeinjury.com/?p=3950Living out in the country we have always had very active, high energy dogs and because they are so active, just like many athletes, we have experienced injuries unfortunately. The first time we experienced a knee injury was with our late dog named Crosby. Crosby during his lifetime had three knee surgeries, two of them […]

Living out in the country we have always had very active, high energy dogs and because they are so active, just like many athletes, we have experienced injuries unfortunately. The first time we experienced a knee injury was with our late dog named Crosby. Crosby during his lifetime had three knee surgeries, two of them being TPLO surgeries and one cruciate surgery. These were performed in 2004-2006. Crosby had to have one TPLO surgery redone as he was still having problems with his knee after the first surgery. Crosby did very well with all his surgeries and was able to walk and weight bear on all four legs, however, he never really did recover 100% and was somewhat limited to his activity after having his surgeries.

We now have two more very active dogs, Harley and Rudy. Harley was diagnosed with a knee injury in the spring of 2016, where he had completely tore his cruciate. At this time, our vet knew we were familiar with knee surgeries from past experiences with Crosby, and he told us about this new surgery, Simitri Stable in Stride surgery, by Dr. Neil Embleton. Because our dog Harley was an extremely active dog, our vet knew that the recovery process would not be easy with him and that Harley was also not going to be gentle with his newly transformed knee no matter which procedure of surgery we decided on. Our vet asked us to talk with Dr. Embleton and to also research the Simitri surgery before we made our decision on which type of surgery we felt would be best for Harley. After talking with Dr. Embleton and researching the Simitri surgery we decided that this option, if it was successful, would probably be our best option for Harley as he was still very young at 7 years old and very active.

Harley had his Simitri Stable in Stride surgery in June 2016. By the second day after Harley’s surgery he was already weight bearing on all four legs. We knew from experience that the post operative care is crucial for a successful recovery, and with Dr. Embleton’s very detailed and descriptive care instructions we did our best to perform the massage and exercises as described in the handout. Within a couple weeks of surgery, Harley was raring to go, which was good and bad. Now it was trying to contain his energy for another 3-4 months to slowly regain his strength and let the surgery fully heal. In the fall of 2016 Harley was through his recovery period from the surgery and was doing extremely well. It has now been 8 months since Harley’s Simitri surgery and you would not know that he has both a femoral and a tibial plate in his leg, as he walks and runs just as he had done before his injury. He has regained all his muscle back and his full range of motion. The Simitri surgery was a complete success.

Late this fall we were then informed that our youngest dog, Rudy, tore his cruciate as well. This was definitely not news we wanted to hear as we had just finished with Harley’s recovery, however, with experiencing the success of the Simitri surgery that Harley had, there was no question that we would have the Simitri surgery performed on Rudy as well. Rudy had his Simitri surgery January 4, 2017 and we are almost half way through his recovery process at this moment. He has been weight bearing on all four legs and has been very successful at getting his range of motion back. So far Rudy is looking like he will have a very successful recovery as well. Dr. Embleton has been extremely helpful after both surgeries with our dogs and has been very involved with the progress of both Harley and Rudy and is always there for us if we have any questions or concerns. We are very thankful that we chose this surgery for both Harley and Rudy and look forward to many more healthy and happy years with our dogs.

]]>http://dogkneeinjury.com/simitri-success-harley-rudy/feed/0Conservative Management Success – Finn the Chocolate Labhttp://dogkneeinjury.com/conservative-management-success-large-dog/
http://dogkneeinjury.com/conservative-management-success-large-dog/#commentsWed, 11 Jan 2017 20:22:58 +0000http://dogkneeinjury.com/?p=3889After stumbling upon this website about a year ago, I thought it’d be good to share my own experiences with my dog and conservative management. Taking it back a bit, it all started in February 2016. I have a pretty active 8 year old (7 yo at the time) 85 lb chocolate labrador named Finn. […]

After stumbling upon this website about a year ago, I thought it’d be good to share my own experiences with my dog and conservative management.

Taking it back a bit, it all started in February 2016. I have a pretty active 8 year old (7 yo at the time) 85 lb chocolate labrador named Finn. He spent most of his life chasing balls and frisbees, as most labs do. Lately I had noticed that after some rigorous activity like a game of fetch, he would often be stiff when rising, limp slightly for a day then be back to normal the following morning. I didn’t think much of it as he never yelped in pain or held a limp longer than 24hr.

I thought that maybe with his age, he’s beginning to get a bit stiff and I decided to pay a visit to my local hydro therapist to help sooth his aches and teach him how to swim. (Long story short, we grew up in an area with no bodies of water, so he never swam!)

I took him in for a consult and is where this all started. The therapist immediately pointed out that he most likely has a partly torn cruciate in his hind right, which was later confirmed by the vet using the drawer test method. Along with the drawer test he also showed other signs such as not fully weight bearing on the affected leg, had some muscle atrophy in his hamstring, and would limp after heavy activity.

I went home feeling sad and extremely guilty that I didn’t notice this sooner, and was unsure of what to do. The therapist seemed hopeful and confident that conservative management would serve him well and that with his very slight limping, it could possibly be a very slight tear instead of a full tear.

I began strict activity restriction for 6-8 weeks. Few short potty breaks throughout the day, and luckily he is just a couch potato at home, so I didn’t have to worry about him being too wound up. We did lots of brain games, so he was at least mentally tired. Paired with the activity restriction, we also did hydro therapy once a week for 4 months. I also worked to get his weight down a bit and adjusted his diet to include a good amount of joint supplements and anti-inflammatories.

It showed some improvement, he no longer limped but he still wasn’t fully weight bearing on his hind right. I was stumped. I went back to the vet for another consult, and he suggested I try cold laser therapy. This is where things began improving a lot.

We started right away, doing 2 sessions a week on both knees and hips. After a couple sessions he was no longer stiff getting up and even the hydro therapist noticed an improvement on how he distributed his weight; it was even across all 4 legs! I was so happy.

It’s been almost a year now from when we began CM, and he’s doing better than ever. We can’t wait for summer to arrive so that we can swim a lot more outdoors, we enjoy longer walks now and hikes on occasion. No limping at all! I believe conservative management was very successful for us, him being a large breed dog I was skeptical but I think we did well considering it was only a partial tear and not a full tear. If it had been a full tear, I think maybe we would have considered doing TPLO.

We don’t do any off leash stuff still, as I still want to keep his activity somewhat under control. We still are continuing doing cold laser and hydro, but only a couple times a month compared to every week when we first started.

I hope this experience can help someone out there who might be dealing with a similar situation!

]]>http://dogkneeinjury.com/conservative-management-success-large-dog/feed/31Molly the Golden Retriever – CCL Injury with TPLO Surgeryhttp://dogkneeinjury.com/golden-retriever-tplo-surgery/
http://dogkneeinjury.com/golden-retriever-tplo-surgery/#respondThu, 05 Jan 2017 00:59:22 +0000http://dogkneeinjury.com/?p=3857Molly is a 6 year old Golden Retriever. Today marks 8 days post-op, and Molly is doing well. She had surgery 2 days following the CCL tear. It was helpful that she had surgery on the day we left for Christmas vacation (we felt very guilty) because Molly had access to the Animal Hospital’s professional […]

Molly is a 6 year old Golden Retriever. Today marks 8 days post-op, and Molly is doing well. She had surgery 2 days following the CCL tear. It was helpful that she had surgery on the day we left for Christmas vacation (we felt very guilty) because Molly had access to the Animal Hospital’s professional care staff post-op. They cleaned the wound daily, crated her, administered meds, required her to wear the E-Collar to prevent licking wound, and took her out for walks. The professional staff did an excellent job of caring for her, and they called me everyday with updates on Molly’s progress. Upon returning from vacation, we picked her up on day 6 post-op.

She just completed her antibiotics Rx today; administering was a challenge (nasty taste), but I gave it to her in a spoon covered with vanilla ice cream (formulated for dogs). She is still taking Rimadyl (anti-inflammatory med) and Tramadol as needed for pain, and Glucosamine for joint health.

Molly is an inside pet; therefore, confining her to a 6ft space once returning home was difficult. She did not like being crated (this is why boarding her at the clinic following surgery was so beneficial). Improvising, we have blocked off all furniture to prevent climbing on it, and we enclosed a 6-8 foot space for her by the window (6ft recommended, but she is a good patient). Molly did wear an Elizabethan (E) Collar for 1 week (hated it) to prevent licking the wound, but is now removed (another reason why remaining at the clinic post-op was beneficial). She understands NOT TO LICK as we continually remind her that if she licks, the collar goes back on, as it sits right in her view!

It has been helpful to Molly for us to sit down on the floor beside her. She is allowed to walk around the house at this stage, just not climb on furniture. So getting down to her level, talking to her and petting her, makes her happy. She always wants to sit as close to us as possible.

This morning Molly walked on the road for about 5 minutes. She tried to run, but I did not allow it. She hobbles, but does not seem to be in pain. She still is not eating much (DR said this was normal), but she needs to lose weight anyway. Her fluid intake is normal, drinking lots of water. The range of motion exercises for physical therapy are important, but she does not like them!

Long term management for Molly’s condition is crucial to her health and to delay osteoarthritis. The surgeon noted that her other knee shows some degeneration, but may be managed (not requiring surgery yet).

Molly’s CONSERVATIVE MANAGEMENT plans include:
1) losing 20 lbs by joining the animal hospital’s BIGGEST LOSER CHALLENGE beginning in January
2) cutting out table scraps and dog treats
3) switching to healthy weight dog food
4) adding glucosamine/chondroitin supplements to her diet for joint health
5) swimming more often in addition to her daily walks (we have a pool, and luckily she LOVES TO SWIM)

]]>http://dogkneeinjury.com/golden-retriever-tplo-surgery/feed/0Cost of CCL Surgery for Dogshttp://dogkneeinjury.com/cost-of-ccl-surgery-for-dogs/
http://dogkneeinjury.com/cost-of-ccl-surgery-for-dogs/#respondMon, 28 Nov 2016 16:24:09 +0000http://dogkneeinjury.com/?p=3780For many people who face the possibility of surgery for their dog, a common concern is the price. And it can be expensive, but sometimes it’s the only option. This post is to help give you an idea of the total cost of dog knee injury-related procedures, including the surgery itself, post-op care, any extra […]

For many people who face the possibility of surgery for their dog, a common concern is the price. And it can be expensive, but sometimes it’s the only option. This post is to help give you an idea of the total cost of dog knee injury-related procedures, including the surgery itself, post-op care, any extra supplies you may need, etc. Remember, though, that it is always wise to do your own research and talk to your vet regarding which type of surgery and therapy will be best for your dog. You might also consider getting more than one opinion from different vets before moving forward with surgery.

Surgery

Cost of surgery can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the geographic region where the surgery is performed (veterinary clinics in major cities tend to be more expensive than smaller veterinary offices), who is performing it (i.e. a board-certified orthopedic surgeon vs. a general veterinarian who has some experience with the surgery), the size of your dog, and what is included. The prices below, depending on the particular veterinary office, may include pre-surgery bloodwork, anesthesia, the surgery itself, post-surgery care, and medications. Be sure to clarify with your vet what exactly is included with the price.

Extracapsular Repair

$995-$3,00

The cost of extracapsular repair is generally less than TPLO or TTA surgeries, which involve manipulation of bone. Read more about the specific costs of traditional surgeries here.

The cost of this particular surgery varies depending on the size of your dog. Smaller dogs require less; many of the medications, supplies, and even implants are calculated based on weight. Read more about the specific costs of TTA surgery here.

Triple Tibial Osteotomy (TTO)

$3,000-$5,000

TTO is a procedure that combines different aspects of TPLO and TTA surgeries. It is not commonly performed in the U.S. at this time. Read an account of TTO surgery and its associated costs here.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy for dogs uses a variety of techniques in order to promote healing, relieve pain, and help with recovery for musculoskeletal injuries. Treatments may include electrical stimulation, hot and cold therapy, hydrotherapy, laser therapy, acupressure, stretching, massage, treadmills, and ultrasound.

Like surgery, the cost of physical therapy varies depending on the nature of the injury and the location of treatment. You can expect to pay between $100 and $200 for an initial consultation, which includes a physical exam, neurological exam, and gait analysis. The cost for each subsequent visit will vary according to the type of therapy needed as well as any special considerations for the individual dog. Expect to pay between $35 and $80 per session and between $500 and $1,500 for end-to-end therapy. Certain types of pet insurance may cover some or all of the costs.

Post-Operative Supplies

Post-operative supplies are another expense you should take into consideration before moving forward with surgery for your dog. If you don’t already have one, a crate is generally recommended to ensure that your dog stays still for the weeks following surgery. E-collars are helpful for keeping your dog from licking the incision site, harnesses and braces help keep the knee in place during movement, and puzzles and toys help keep your dog mentally stimulated and entertained during recovery. See below for general prices of post-operative supplies.

]]>http://dogkneeinjury.com/cost-of-ccl-surgery-for-dogs/feed/0TPLO Complications – Bluhttp://dogkneeinjury.com/tplo-complications-blu/
http://dogkneeinjury.com/tplo-complications-blu/#commentsSat, 26 Nov 2016 01:45:52 +0000http://dogkneeinjury.com/?p=3771Initially we tried conservative management with my pit/shepherd mix Blu because I did not want to put him through surgery. We had some success with that for about a year until I got another dog and he reinjured it rough housing. We tried CM again but this time he wasn’t improving so we made the […]

Initially we tried conservative management with my pit/shepherd mix Blu because I did not want to put him through surgery. We had some success with that for about a year until I got another dog and he reinjured it rough housing. We tried CM again but this time he wasn’t improving so we made the tough decision and my baby had TPLO on 9/29/16; tomorrow will be 6 weeks in.

He developed an infection week 1 and was put on 2 different antibiotics. He seemed to be improving by week 3 and he was using his leg pretty regularly so we started him on physical therapy. The therapist said he was doing great and we were feeling pretty good about our decision until a couple days later when he stopped using his leg all together. We went to the emergency vet because he was lying on his pillow shaking and she said she thought he had an infection. Because he wasn’t responding to the antibiotics she thought exploratory surgery would be appropriate. I wasn’t about to put him through that unless the surgeon recommended it so we packed him up and drove back to where he had his surgery. We waited for 3 hours to see a fill in for the surgeon who was on medical leave. The Dr. tried aspirating fluid from 3 different spots in his leg but didn’t get anything so he thought he may have just slipped and hurt it and would be back to normal in a few days. We left with some Metacam and Tramadol relieved.

A few days later he was not any better and completely lame so we went and saw another vet filling in for the surgeon. This time the Dr. successfully aspirated fluid and put him on another round of antibiotics (Chloramphenicol) and said we would see a big improvement within a few days. A few days later he was improving slower than we were told so we took him back to the vet this time seeing the Dr. who did his surgery. The results had come back from the culture done during our previous visit and we were told he had a staph infection but not the resistant kind. The vet did x-rays, said everything looked good and we were given another week of Chloramphenicol. He said if that didn’t work they may have to take the plate out and then he sent us on our way.

About 4 days later he started using his leg about 50% and slowly improved from there for a few days so I was thrilled until this past Sunday he went completely lame again. He seems fine other than the fact that he’s not using his leg but I am taking him to the vet again this evening to be safe. I have read a lot of other posts on this site that are extremely disheartening and I am beside myself with worry. My question is has anyone had a similar experience and could it be he’s just recovering slower than most dogs? If there is anyone who can help ease my mind I would really appreciate it.

]]>http://dogkneeinjury.com/tplo-complications-blu/feed/18TTA Surgery – Bluehttp://dogkneeinjury.com/tta-surgery-blue/
http://dogkneeinjury.com/tta-surgery-blue/#respondTue, 01 Nov 2016 05:52:42 +0000http://dogkneeinjury.com/?p=3756Blue is a 2-year-old pit bull who stole my heart the day I laid eyes on her. She was 8 weeks when we got her. She began to have problems with her hind right leg and when we took her for x-rays, they discovered the torn ACL. She was barely a year old. We were […]

Blue is a 2-year-old pit bull who stole my heart the day I laid eyes on her. She was 8 weeks when we got her. She began to have problems with her hind right leg and when we took her for x-rays, they discovered the torn ACL. She was barely a year old. We were told she would eventually have to have surgery. They gave us pain meds and said to keep an eye on her. Well, here we are now, 48 hours after surgery. I am a worrier by nature!! I cried profusely when I had to leave her at the animal hospital for the procedure. However, the staff took excellent care of her. Yesterday when we went to pick her up the doctor showed us the before and after x-rays. I was very pleased. Blue has a long road ahead of her and as a parent I want to do what’s best for her. I need the support that you all offer.

]]>http://dogkneeinjury.com/tta-surgery-blue/feed/0Photonic Light Therapy for Dogshttp://dogkneeinjury.com/photonic-light-therapy-dogs/
http://dogkneeinjury.com/photonic-light-therapy-dogs/#respondSun, 18 Sep 2016 19:15:39 +0000http://dogkneeinjury.com/?p=3734There are many ways to help your dog heal after surgery, such as acupuncture, massage, or turmeric paste. Another treatment you may have heard of is photonic light therapy, which uses a laser with red or near-infrared light to penetrate damaged cells at specific points on the body. A laser, in the simplest terms, is an amplifier […]

There are many ways to help your dog heal after surgery, such as acupuncture, massage, or turmeric paste. Another treatment you may have heard of is photonic light therapy, which uses a laser with red or near-infrared light to penetrate damaged cells at specific points on the body. A laser, in the simplest terms, is an amplifier of light, emitted in the form of photons (electromagnetic energy). The absorption and penetration levels of each photon is determined by its wavelength. When the photons, in the form of light, come into contact with biological tissue, part of it is absorbed, part is reflected or scattered, and part is further transmitted. The primary benefits of light therapy come from those photons that are absorbed, initiating activity at the molecular, cellular, and tissue levels. Interestingly, damaged cells and tissues have been shown to have a significantly higher response to light therapy than healthy cells.

At its core, light therapy does three main things: increases healing, decreases inflammation, and decreases pain. But how?

Application of red light therapy stimulates mitochondria within a cell, which increases production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), nitric oxide (NO), and reactive oxygen species (ROS), all of which are involved in various physiological and pathological processes in the body. ATP, for example, sends signals to the brain to release endorphins and serotonin, which are both natural pain relievers. Other healing effects triggered by light therapy include:

Red and near-infrared light can penetrate tissue because they are not blocked by blood or water as much as other wavelengths. This wavelength is also used in medical settings for people, treating things like burns, wounds, joint/muscle pain, and other injuries. We of course know now that light therapy can be used to treat certain ailments in animals as well. Over the past several years, new developments in technology have made it possible to administer light therapy to your dog in the comfort of your own home with smaller, portable lasers. If you don’t feel comfortable administering light therapy yourself, however, many veterinarians will do it in their office.

Improvements are often seen after only a few light therapy sessions, but may take up to 12 in chronic cases, before shifting to less frequent sessions. Some chronic conditions, such as arthritis, require ongoing therapy. While photonic light therapy may very well be a good option for expediting your dog’s post-surgery healing process, there are a few things to be aware of. Light therapy should not be used:

On the eyes, as it may cause retinal damage

If cancer is present, because the therapy could potentially stimulate cancerous cell activity

If your dog has any kind of bleeding disorder

Over the reproductive organs

As with any kind of treatment, always consult with your vet. He/she can evaluate your dog’s particular situation and help you decide if photonic light therapy is a good option for you.

]]>http://dogkneeinjury.com/photonic-light-therapy-dogs/feed/0Turmeric for Dogshttp://dogkneeinjury.com/turmeric-for-dogs/
http://dogkneeinjury.com/turmeric-for-dogs/#respondFri, 12 Aug 2016 21:59:12 +0000http://dogkneeinjury.com/?p=3700What It Is Turmeric, an herb known for its bright orange color, has long been used in its native Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian countries as a staple for not only cooking and clothing dye, but also as medicine. For thousands of years, Chinese medicine, for example, has incorporated herbal remedies as part of its holistic […]

What It Is

Turmeric, an herb known for its bright orange color, has long been used in its native Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian countries as a staple for not only cooking and clothing dye, but also as medicine. For thousands of years, Chinese medicine, for example, has incorporated herbal remedies as part of its holistic approach to health. Elements like nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle play large roles in this type of treatment, and it’s not just for people! Our dogs can benefit from herbal medicine just as we do.

The active ingredient in turmeric is called curcumin, which gives turmeric its signature orange hue and is also responsible for a multitude of health benefits. Perhaps the most significant benefit of curcumin as it relates to dogs with cruciate injuries is that it is a powerful anti-inflammatory and natural painkiller. It is also a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent, which can be useful for disinfecting and treating wounds. So if your dog is recovering from surgery and is a bit swollen or in pain, turmeric might just do the trick.

Other benefits include:

Contains powerful antioxidants

Detoxifies the body

Purifies and thins blood

Supports heart health

Stimulates bile production in the liver (metabolizes fat and removes waste from the body)

Aids in stomach ailments, digestive disorders, bloating, and gas

Helps relieve allergies

Treats diarrhea

Aids in the treatment of epilepsy

Can help prevent and even treat cancer

High in fiber and rich in vitamins and minerals

How to Administer

You can feed turmeric powder or fresh turmeric root directly to your dog by sprinkling it on top of or mixing it in with his/her food. But you might also try whipping up a batch of turmeric golden paste, which you can also add directly too his/her food, but includes ingredients that help absorption of nutrients in the body. It’s important to get high quality, organic turmeric because it is much more potent than non-organic. Golden paste recipes vary slightly, but here is a basic one for you to try:

Stir turmeric powder and 1 cup of water in a pot over gentle heat for about 7-10 minutes until you have a thick paste. You may need to add more water if it gets too thick. Add the oil and pepper (especially important for absorption so don’t omit!) at the END of cooking and stir well until all oil is incorporated. Allow to cool. Store in a clean glass jar with a lid in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. You can also freeze a portion of the paste if you don’t think you will use it all in two weeks.

The amount of paste you give your dog depends on his/her size. A good starting point is around 1/8-1/4 teaspoon per day for every 10 lbs of dog weight (so 1/2-1 teaspoon for a 40-lb dog). It’s a good idea to start on the low side and see if you notice any changes in your dog over a period of time. Turmeric does pass quickly through the body so make sure your dog has lots of fresh water available to avoid constipation.

If you are using turmeric topically, you can mix the powder with a little honey and apply it directly to your dog’s skin. Keep an eye out, though, because he/she might try to lick it off!

One last thing: we mentioned earlier that turmeric thins blood. This can be good for preventing blood clots, but we don’t want blood to be too thin. If your dog is on medication, especially those that thin the blood, check with your vet for the appropriate dosage.